NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD FINDS MERIT IN EQUITY'S ULP AGAINST AMERICAN GIRL - HEARING SET FOR FEBRUARY

The National Labor Relations Board has found merit in the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) filed in July, 2006 by Actors' Equity Association (Equity) against American Girl Place - New York (AGP). The ULP charge, which asserts that AGP interfered with, restrained and coerced employees in the exercise of their right to seek Union representation, led to the two day strike by some of the American Girl Place actors in August, will be heard in February. The employer has until December 14th to submit a written response to the charges.

Equity filed the Unfair Labor Practice charge based on the company's retraction of a proposed pay increase due to the Actors' support of the Union's efforts. A company representative also asserted that support for unionization was disloyalty to the employer and threatened the employees with more onerous working conditions if they selected Equity as their collective bargaining representative.

On August 3, the Union exercised its right to engage in an Unfair Labor Practice strike and the Actors walked the picket line, with support from AFM Local 802 Musicians, which is contracted by AGP-NY for the performances at the retail store's theater, and Local One Stagehands. Equity ended the two-day strike on August 5 before the Actors were permanently replaced and suffered further financial loss.

In mid-November, an election was held and the Actors supported union representation 7 to 5. American Girl Place-NY is currently challenging the election results.